Battery Isolator Experience?
05-24-2019 | 12:00 PM
#1
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 705
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From: South FL
Battery Isolator Experience?
Hello all and TGIF/Looong weekend!
I got rid of my generator and went with battery bank of deep cycle batteries and a small 12-volt A/C unit. Added a 60 amp shore charger w three bank capabilties with the intent of charging 2 separate starter batteries and one bank of "house" batteries. Works great at the dock....and can run A/C off battery house bank when on the hook for about 6 hours so good for over-nights.
Question: Now I want to connect each of the engine's alternators to the "house" bank through a one-way Battery Isolator. Alternators are the ones with a single output on them and today they go to the wiring harness. Anyone know how to connect this up right? The idea is to have the engines charging the house batteries when they are running.
Anyone done it?
thanks
Swampy
I got rid of my generator and went with battery bank of deep cycle batteries and a small 12-volt A/C unit. Added a 60 amp shore charger w three bank capabilties with the intent of charging 2 separate starter batteries and one bank of "house" batteries. Works great at the dock....and can run A/C off battery house bank when on the hook for about 6 hours so good for over-nights.
Question: Now I want to connect each of the engine's alternators to the "house" bank through a one-way Battery Isolator. Alternators are the ones with a single output on them and today they go to the wiring harness. Anyone know how to connect this up right? The idea is to have the engines charging the house batteries when they are running.
Anyone done it?
thanks
Swampy
05-24-2019 | 01:33 PM
#3
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 88
From: South FL
Dug around on google ....remove red wire from alternator and connect to isolator input, one out to battery A, one to battery B - do I need red qire from isolator input back to wiring harness?
05-24-2019 | 02:04 PM
#4
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,088
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From: Deland, Fl
Now your confusing me. Lol
wire from alternator is parrelled with starter 4 awg red wire to battery in the harness. Pigtail from engine goes to gauges such as volt meter. I have two engines so two positive leads go to isolator under my dash with one wire coming out to run everything 12 volt in my boat. The two hot wire from engines one needs to go to Port volt meter and the starboard volt meter on input of isolator. You can install isolator in engine room before pigtail for gauges. Either way you can only have 12 volts one way to batteries or backfeed happens. Two alternators run in parrelel to two batteries freek out and both go into full amp charge. Meltdown baby. I know, cause it happened to me.
lets say you have 4 engines, need 4 isolators, each exit lead can be placed on master switch on 1 or 2. Two on 1 and 2 on master 2. Then when you switch to all batteries no backfeed can happen.
B38
wire from alternator is parrelled with starter 4 awg red wire to battery in the harness. Pigtail from engine goes to gauges such as volt meter. I have two engines so two positive leads go to isolator under my dash with one wire coming out to run everything 12 volt in my boat. The two hot wire from engines one needs to go to Port volt meter and the starboard volt meter on input of isolator. You can install isolator in engine room before pigtail for gauges. Either way you can only have 12 volts one way to batteries or backfeed happens. Two alternators run in parrelel to two batteries freek out and both go into full amp charge. Meltdown baby. I know, cause it happened to me.
lets say you have 4 engines, need 4 isolators, each exit lead can be placed on master switch on 1 or 2. Two on 1 and 2 on master 2. Then when you switch to all batteries no backfeed can happen.
B38
